To ferment or not to ferment…
Is it more beneficial to a chicken’s health? Yes.
Does it save in feed costs? Perhaps, I do not have the answer to that question.
However, here is what I can tell you from my experience. They love it and come running when they see me walk out with the ramekins. I now fill their feed buckets with half the amount of feed than I did before starting the fermented feed experiment. Their molt seemed to be shorter, and egg production has increased. And I’ve noticed their poop is more solid.
We know that good gut health is important to us, as humans, and the same goes for all other animals.
but it will last for months depending on the size of your flock.
I did a lot of research as to what can be fermented, what is the best way and how to ferment feed properly. I also talked to my local feed store as to what they had available and cost. You can choose what you would like to use for ingredients, however this is what I chose to use.
Water, Black Oil Sunflower Seed, Barley, Oats, Scratch or Cracked Corn, Chicken feed (Pellets or Crumbles) and Alfalfa Pellets. ( Yep, you read that right, Alfalfa Pellets the same thing you give rabbits or horses.) And why Alfalfa Pellets? To get their green vegetables so to speak, the vitamins that they would be getting from foraging greens during the summer.
You will also need to have some other supplies, such as:
Well sealing food grade containers. We use 5 Gallon buckets with lids that can create an airtight seal. A large Colander and a large spoon, both food grade plastic.
I can not emphasize more on the food grade plastic part. You do not want to use any metal utensils when fermenting, or you will kill the bacteria that creates the process of fermentation.
I also had to purchase a large colander. Since the ones we have in our kitchen are either a small plastic colander which won’t sit on top of the bucket or a large vintage metal one, perfect size, but metal.
When I set out to find a plastic colander at the store, I couldn’t find one that was large enough to sit on top of the bucket that had small enough holes that the seeds wouldn’t fall through. However, what I did find was a cheap plastic bowl, in which I could drill holes into and made my own custom colander.
This is the bowl I purchased. It is a 6 Quart Sterilite Plastic Bowl
If you already have a large colander but it does not sit well on top of the bucket, you can take a lid to a 5 gallon bucket and make a ring for it to sit in. Just mark out a circle just about an inch smaller than the widest part of the colander on the lid, and using a sheetrock knife, cut out a hole in the lid for the colander to rest in. This will work quite well.
I did have a large slotted spoon that we rarely used, so it was perfect to dedicate as for a fermenting spoon. You can use wood, though the fermented feed can get thick at the bottom, and it could potentially break the spoon. (My sincerest apologies to my husband, I did break his favorite spoon, before I found the slotted one…)
INGREDIENTS AND SUPPLIES:
List of what you will need to start fermenting:
· Plastic Colander
· A Large slotted spoon
· Chicken Feed (Crumble or Pellets)
· Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
· Whole Barely
· Whole Oats
· Scratch or Cracked Corn
· Alfalfa Pellets
I have 3 buckets that I use, 2 in the fermentation process and 1 for draining the liquid.
DIRECTIONS:
I do this process in the evening…
To start the very first batch: Fill your bucket using roughly equal amounts of the ingredients above, except the Alfalfa Pellets. (That comes later)
Then fill the bucket with fresh tap water* making sure to fully submerge ingredients, I find that 2-3 inches above the bulk of the ingredients works well. It is necessary to have plenty of extra water to allow the feed to absorb and expand. It is also very important that the ingredients are completely covered with water, so it does not grow mold. (You will notice some of the seeds will float.) Stir well and secure lid tightly, making sure it is sealed.
* Do not use water that has been chlorinated, it will not ferment.
Stir 2-3 times a day to burp and release the off gasses from the fermentation process. This is very important to do, or the bucket may burst under pressure. Allow mixture to sit and ferment for 2-3 days, it is ready when you see and hear the bubbles rising to the top of the ingredients when you open it up.
This is a batch that has fermented for 2 days and is ready to be drained.
Once the feed has been fermented, you will need to drain off the excess water. Using another 5 gallon bucket, place your colander on top of bucket. Pour the entire fermented feed contents into the colander and let it drain, you may need to stir to help keep the feed from settling in the drain holes. Keep adding the fermented feed until all of it is in the colander. Rinse and set aside used bucket. Once the water is drained and you do not hear anymore dripping out, move the colander with the fermented feed in it to the rinsed bucket and let it rest for the night.
Next, using the leftover water from the first batch of fermented feed as your starter. You make the second batch. Add your equal amounts of ingredients, just like you did in the first. Add more water if needed to completely submerge, stir and burp as before. Using the leftover fermented water helps speed up the fermentation process in the following batches.
What has worked for me is have alternating buckets. 1 bucket ready to be drained every evening, with another in the process for the following day.
In the morning, I grab 3 ramekins and add a layer of the Alfalfa Pellets then fill and stir in the fermented feed. I let it sit for a few minutes for the Alfalfa Pellets to absorb any extra moisture and expand, then stir to combine it well with the fermented feed. When I am done, the bowls of fermented feed look like mash.
Then it’s taken out to the flock for them to eat.
Side notes:
When making the fermented feed, it is best to store it in a cool room.
If the fermented feed is bad, it will smell off, it should smell vaguely sweet, or similar to apple cider vinegar. If it is pungent or sour then toss and start over. If you see mold growing on fermented feed, then toss. This is an indication that you have not added enough water to your mixture. or the container is not air tight.
It’s important to rinse and clean buckets and lids regularly to avoid mold.
Our flock is large, over 125, so my scoops of ingredients are measured at about 4 cups of each ingredient, and I add enough water that the bucket is about ¾ full. The 4 cups of alfalfa pellets are divided between 3 ramekins.